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BREXITEER Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has spoken out in support of Boris Johnson after he faced a backlash for his controversial comments where he compared the Prime Minister's Brexit strategy to "wrapping a suicide vest" around the UK.

This Sunday, the former Foreign Secretary launched an explosive attack on the Prime Minister accusing her of wrapping a “suicide vest” around a “great British Brexit” and handing the detonator to the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

He has faced widespread criticism for his comments, with one Tory MP branding his words as “one of the most disgusting moments in British politics”.

But Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen has spoken in support of Mr Johnson, arguing that he faced criticism due to his strong stance on Brexit.

In comments made to the BBC, Mr Bridgen said: “Boris says it how he sees it, and I think it’s how a lot of people in our country see it, but very few dares to call it.

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“He speaks truth unto power and I’m not surprised that those in power resent that and that there’s a backlash.

In further comments, Mr Bridgen said: “Boris is a great orator and that is what he’s done.”

Writing a column for the Mail On Sunday, Mr Johnson ferociously lambasted the Prime Minister and her Chequers deal. In recent weeks, he has published a string of highly critical columns, which have sparked speculation that he plans to make a Conservative Party leadership bid.

He wrote: “At every stage in the talks so far, Brussels gets what Brussels wants.

“We have agreed to the EU’s timetable; we have agreed to hand over £39 billion, for nothing in return.

“Now under the Chequers proposal, we are set to agree to accept their rules - forever - with no say on the making of those rules.

“It is a humiliation.

“We look like a seven-stone weakling being comically bent out of shape by a 500lb gorilla.”

The Former Foreign Minister also hit out at the Northern Ireland “backstop” - the procedure which makes sure there is no Irish hard border.

According to the EU’s plans, if no trade deal is struck with the UK, Northern Ireland will remain in the single market.

Mr Johnson commented on the backstop saying: “We have opened ourselves to perpetual political blackmail.

“We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution - and handed the detonator to Michel Barnier.

“We have managed to reduce the great British Brexit to two appalling options: either we must divide the Union, or the whole country must accept EU law forever.”

The passionate Brexiteer noted there are “far better technical solutions” to the Irish border, but the British Government “has never consistently pushed for those projects to be developed, and that is because there has always been a secret agenda to keep the UK in the customs union and effectively in the Single Market”.

Tory MP and ex-army officer Tom Tugendhat, who has been viewed as a possible rival in a leadership contest, has responded with absolute fury to Mr Johnson's comment.

He wrote on Twitter: “A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand.

"The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes.

“Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died In horrific pain.

"Some need to grow up.

"Comparing the PM to that isn’t funny.”

The former Foreign Secretary’s remarks come while he is in the spotlight for having announced two days ago that he and his wife, Marina Wheeler, are divorcing after 25 years of marriage.

Only hours before, reports claimed Marina had booted her husband out of their home after accusing him of cheating.